Raunds march centenary plaque

Image: © Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff Taken: 2 Mar 2009

Raunds was one of the county's foremost shoemaking towns, specialising in boots for the British army. Work fluctuated according to demand and wages were low, often undercut by competition. In 1905 there was a strike and 115 men marched to London to present their grievances to Parliament. The words on the plaque are as follows: On Monday, 8th May 1905, 115 striking army boot makers left Raunds to march to London to present their case of poor wages to the Secretary of State for War, Mr Arnold Foster. The march was organised and led by Councillor James Gribble. They marched through Bedford, Luton, Harpenden, St Albans and Watford, reaching London on Friday, 12th May, but the War Minister refused to meet them. However a small party was allowed into the Houses of Parliament. On Sunday, 14th May, a mass rally was held in Trafalgar Square attended by 10,000 sympathizers. On Monday, 15th May, the marchers started back to Raunds. Most notably, the strike and march won the principle which had been sought - a standard rate of pay accepted and enforced by the War Office.

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